CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY Visits ABC's The View 12/22

Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words, the critically-acclaimed, sell-out show called "big-yuks entertainment" by Charles Isherwood of The New York Times, will be featured on ABC's "The View" today Monday, December 22, at 11am on the ABC television network. Kristen Johnston, who appears regularly in Celebrity Autobiography, makes a guest appearance on the show, and is joined by "View" co-hosts Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd, reading excerpts from the hit comedy sensation. Ms. Shepherd appears regularly in Celebrity Autobiography and Ms. Behar has made a number of appearances in the show as well.

The comedy sensation Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words features a line up of rotating performers who interpret the actual words and stories written by the famous and the infamous, in both solo and ensemble "chamber" pieces.  Some of the "authors" that are featured include Ivana Trump, VAnna White, Mr. T, Star Jones, Kenny Loggins, Tommy Lee, Sylvester Stallone, 'N Sync, Zsa Zsa Gabor, David Cassidy, Neil Sedaka, Britney Spears, Madonna, Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson, as well as the infamous memoirs of ElizaBeth Taylor, Eddie Fisher, and Debbie Reynolds, which are edited together to create a Rashomon-esque playlet in the participants' own words.

Celebrity Autobiography is playing to sell-out audiences and rave reviews.  Charles Isherwood of The New York Times called the show “big-yuks entertainment” and a “merry compendium of the witlessness and wisdom of the rich and famous.”  Joe Dziemianowicz of the Daily News called it a “potent comic cocktail…you weep with laughter.”  The New Yorker called it “inspired.”  And Sam Thielman of Variety wrote, “Audience members hyperventilate.  It should lead a long and happy life.”

The line-up of rotating performers for the season includes Bob Balaban, Rachel Dratch ("Saturday Night Live"), Susie Essman (“Curb Your Enthusiam”), Will Forte ("Saturday Night Live"), Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu), two-time Emmy Award winner Kristen Johnston, Richard Kind ("Spin City" and The Producers), Carson Kressley (“How to Look Good Naked”), Tony winner Andrea Martin (Young Frankenstein), Dayle Reyfel, Tony Roberts (Xanadu), Seth Rudetsky (“Legally Blonde The Musical: the Search for Elle Woods”), Claudia Shear (Dirty Blonde), Sherri Shepherd (“The View”), Michael Urie (“Ugly Betty”), Bruce Vilanch, Kristen Wiig ("Saturday Night Live"), Tony winner BD Wong, Tony winner Karen Ziemba, Alan Zweibel, and creator/Emmy nominee Eugene Pack.

Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words was created by Emmy-nominated writer and performer Eugene Pack.  As Pack explains, “I would listen to a lot of books-on-tape, particularly autobiographies, and was astounded at what people would write about.  When I would get a hold of one of these books and read it aloud to friends, they’d insist I was making it up.  But people actually wrote these words!  So I decided to put the material up in front of an audience, knowing that it would be extremely entertaining.”  An instant success, Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words began performing monthly shows in Los Angeles, co-hosted and co-produced by Dayle Reyfel, quickly attracting celebrities as both guest performers and audience members, and garnering media attention.

Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words plays Monday at 7:30 pm at the Triad Theater, 158 West 72 Street.  Tickets are $35 - $45 and may be purchased by contacting Smarttix at 212 868-4444 or www. smarttix.com, or by visiting www.celebrityautobiography.com.  For group sales phone 718 631-0438.  Please note that the Triad Theater has a two-drink minimum and is a cash-only venue.

Photo by Peter James Zielinski